Crestwood’s new city administrator will be earning a comparable rate to his predecessors.

Mark Sime was unanimously selected earlier this month as the first full-time replacement to Petree Eastman, who was released from her employment contract with the city last March. Former Crestwood Fire Chief Karl Kestler has been acting city administrator since last March.

Sime is a retired Air Force colonel, and has been working as a consultant for the Transportation and Logistics Department for the United States Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base. He will begin work within the next month, Mayor Jeff Schlink said. 

Sime will be paid a pro rata salary of $98,000, which is in line with the annual take outlined for the city’s previous administrator, Petree Eastman. Jim Eckrich, who served in the position from 2008-2011, earned approximately $92,000 in the post. 

Sime is leaving his consulting job for the full-time city hall gig. He will be required to notify the city of any outside employment, including consulting work, according to the employment terms approved by the board.

Sime was not issued a formal employment contract with the city, unlike Eastman, who served less than six months of an 18-month contract. Her separation agreement with the city provided Eastman with seven months severance and up to 12 months of health insurance. 

 Related articles:

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• Eastman, Crestwood Board of Aldermen Agree on Separation Terms
• Crestwood City Administrator No Longer Employed by City 
• UPDATED: Crestwood City Administrator Job Posting Going Live This Week 
• Crestwood City Attorney Resigns, Newspaper Op-Ed Examines Potential City Charter Blunder 
• Crestwood Public Works Director Resigns
• Crestwood's Top Staffer Asks for Former City Job